You can move water by utilizing the power of the sun.
Water only moves on its own if it is moving downhill. Otherwise, you need a pump with an outside source of power, usually electricity. A solar pump provides the electricity by using four basic components: a water source, a water pump, hoses or pipes and solar power. Does this Spark an idea?
Uses of Solar Pumps
Solar power pumps are widely variable in composition, scale, cost, quality and application. A solar pump might move water from your rain barrel to your garden, provide running water to the whole house, or pump pond water to containers for livestock. Any requirement to move water can be facilitated by solar power.
Basic Design
First, you need a water source. This could be a well, a pond, a cistern or a rain barrel. Hoses or pipes create a path for the water from the source to its destination. An electric water pump uses one-way valves to force the water through the pathway. The pump is powered by a solar-electric conversion array, usually photovoltaic panels. For pumping in the dark, you will need to add a battery array to store the electricity converted from the sunlight.
Variations on the Theme
There are a host of on-line do-it-yourself designs for solar pumps, which cater to the frugal or to tinkerers. For those who want to purchase solar pumps they are available in a wide range of prices. Additionally, there are specific-use pumps, such as pond, well and fountain pumps.
Tags: move water, rain barrel, solar power, solar pump, water from, water pump, water source